"Adequate progress by this LEA has not been
forthcoming, and urgent action is now needed to ensure that Sandwell's schools receive the support they need," said the chief inspector for schools in England, Chris Woodhead.

Estelle Morris says 'outsourcing' could follow consultants' report

And, raising the prospect of privatisation, the inspection report concluded that the local authority would not be able to make the necessary improvements "unassisted".

Sandwell is the latest in a series of local authorities which have been criticised by inspectors.

Leeds, Rotherham annd Sheffield education authorities were all criticised by inspectors earlier this year - with Leeds facing the prospect of privatisation of its services.

Private contractors have been appointed to run two education services in the London borough of Hackney and almost all of Islington's education services.

Consultants have also been sent in to draw up privatisation proposals in Liverpool, Southwark, Haringey, Walsall, Leicester East and Bristol following bad Ofsted reports.